Chapter 401 - Detour
Chapter 401 – Detour
Originally, none of these people were supposed to show up at Zhai Yanjun's house. They had to take different routes to get to their own destinations and yet, as fate would have it, Zhai Yanjun's car broke down when they were about to go their separate ways.
"What's up?" questioned Shui Xian when he noticed Zhai Yanjun's car wasn't starting.
"Don't know," answered Zhai Yanjun as he got down from the car and went to check what was wrong with his car. But he wasn't that familiar with cars. He had spent way too long in the army where he didn't need to even drive his car for months. So, he wasn't sure what was the issue here. "I guess I need to call a mechanic," he commented while ruffling his hair in annoyance.
"How will you get home?" asked Shui Xian.
"Let's see if I can call a cab," said Zhai Yanjun and pulled out his phone to check the cab service app. However, at this time of the night, there were no cars in the area.
"Do you want me to check it for you?" offered Raelle all of a sudden.
Zhai Yanjun looked over at her with raised brows, "Saozi, you can fix it?"
"Are you doubting my Ellie?" questioned Hyson. "Don't ever do that! She can do all sorts of things and even if she can't she doesn't mind learning."
"I'll see what's wrong," said Raelle and stepped up to check his car.
Shui Xian held her arm and stopped her saying, "There is no need for that."
"Why?" asked Raelle. "Doesn't he have to go home?"
"I can drop him off on our way back home," was Shui Xian's response. He just didn't want his wife to fix Zhai Yanjun's car. Don't ask him why. He might not even know himself but he just didn't feel like letting his wife work for someone else.
Also, fixing the car will get her hands dirty with grease. Those pretty hands don't deserve to get sullied by black grease.
Although Raelle didn't know what kind of reason Shui Xian had in his mind for stopping her, she'd still listen to him. If he said no, then it's a no.
"Alright. That can work as well," stated Raelle and went to their car.
Hyson tsked at Shui Xian and smiled at him knowingly, "Xian Ge, you're really broadening my horizon here." With that, he also went to the car leaving behind Zhai Yanjun who was staring at Shui Xian with an odd expression.
"Do you have to go that far?" he inquired.
Shui Xian cleared his throat, "Yes. What's wrong with going too far?"
"No, seriously dude! She could fix it but you won't let her do it. You'd rather take a detour to my place than allow her to touch my car?"
"It's up to me," retorted Shui Xian.
Zhai Yanjun shook his head at him and dialed the number of a mechanic. Conveying the situation properly, he left the car key with the receptionist of the restaurant they came to eat at and then left with Shui Xian.
On their way back, Hyson was playing on his phone. Raelle was silently staring out the window and Shui Xian was quietly driving. Zhai Yanjun fidgeted in his seat and asked, "Why are you all so quiet?"
Hyson turned his face to him, "Do you want me to sing for you?"
"I don't mind," replied Zhai Yanjun. "I just feel it's too quiet in the car right now. Xian, why don't you turn on the radio?"
"My wife doesn't like listening to music," was Shui Xian's reply.
Zhai Yanjun rolled his eyes at Shui Xian who obviously couldn't see it. "There are news channels on the radio as well!"
"Fai doesn't like listening to the news," replied Shui Xian again.
"There are chat shows as well," insisted Zhai Yanjun. "And when did you start catering to others' likes and dislikes?"
Shui Xian chose not to answer Zhai Yanjun this time around. Obviously, the younger him would have never catered to others' moods. Since he loved music, he'd play it at all costs. But now, he was older and after suffering from the consequences of doing whatever he felt like, he had come to understand that it was alright to put someone else's happiness before you.
It was okay to be considerate with people.
When they dropped off Zhai Yanjun at his door, he insisted on taking them inside. "Oh, come on, just come inside to say hello to my grandparents. You're already here. They'd be mad at me if they got to know I let you leave just like that."
"We should really go back now," replied Shui Xian. He was looking at the time and he really thought they were quite late. Even though they were not kids, it was still not good to stay out for so long.
"You just have to see them at the door," said Zhai Yanjun.
And this statement changed when they got to the door. Because then he wanted to take them inside at all costs. The reason was still the same that they were already at the door now, it wouldn't make sense to leave from here without having a cup of tea. He was being too persistent. He was being the perfect example of giving someone an inch and they'd like to take a mile instead.
But he actually just wanted them to come inside for a while. He had never brought friends home. Even Shui Xian met him outside of the house. So, he didn't want them to leave just like that when they had already come here. He usually wasn't stubborn in life but this time, he was really being not like himself.
And it was this push and pull that Xiang Weimin and Zhai Kuijun got to hear inside. They were both equally surprised to know that Zhai Yanjun brought someone home.. But it was only when they saw with whom he came home that both of them were blown away.